The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-03-12
MADDENED BY BLOOD.
The Unfortunate Adventure of Two Hunt.
ers in Northwestern Minnesota.

| Two of us had been hunting at Red Lake
river, Northwestern Minnesota for several
weeks in November and December OF the
i year 1873, when the unfortunate adventure
purpose to relate occurred, said an cid
hunter to New York San representative
not long ago. We had built us good
stout shanty in the woods, and had made
all calculations to remain in that locality
until spring. My companion was Walter
Zane, and he was much the larger and
older of the two.
Snow came about the 10th of November,
and came Deep A little was added to it
almost daily until the first week in Decem.
Der, when the quantity was 80 great that
we could scarcely move about. We had
| TIVE mules with us, and these were always,
secured at night in rough pen built
against the cabin. We had trapped or shot
several wolves, and though we knew they
were about US in great numbers, we had
no fear of them until the deep snow came
on. The weather held cold and there was
no show for crust to form, and as nothing
could move about, all animals of prey
must have been put to it to secure suf-
ficient food to sustain life. One morn
ing we awoke to find warm sun, and
south wind melting the snow and settling
it down, but as night came on the wind
changed, the temperature fell, and we
knew that next morning would find crust
on the snow strong enough to bear us up.
Such turned out to be nthe case. The
snow was more solidly packed, and its sur
face was so slippery that we could go any
where on our ice skates. weighed only
100 pounds, and could move with safety.
Zane weighed 1856 pounds, and there were
places where he would break through.
We knew that game of all kinds would
now be astir, and that if we could start
up deer his career would be short, and
we made every thing snug at the cabin,
and were off as soon as breakfast had been
dispatched. We had some traps with us
to set, and some already in position to look
after, and it came noon before we realized
it. We then had several fresh pelts with
us and were about three miles from the
cabin. In the open places, where the snow
had melted most, the crust was all right
and Zane had no trouble, but in the shelter
! of the trees, or at the bases of hills, he
would break through every few yards, and
the falls were not always laughing mat
ter. Several times we caught sight of
| wolves, but they were out of range and
running with great swiftness. After eat
ing our luncheon we proceeded down the
river in hopes to rouse up q deer. Along
the stream on our side was strip of
timber about forty rods wide, and we
felt certain that it afforded cover to
all sorts of game could go any
where through the woods, but Zane was
obliged to keep on the southern skirts.
We had not gone over half mile when
reused up big buck, and as he went oil,
breaking through the crust at every leap,
got a snap shot and missed. 1t, however,
turned his course, and gave Zane chance,
and after a minute or two heard the re-
port Of his rifle. TINS was followed by q
shout for help, and reached him to find
that he had met with bad accident. He
was making ready to fire at the deer when
the snow crust broke under him and gave
him fall. The rifle was discharged as he
went down, and the bullet entered his
right leg, just below the knee, and prob
ably imbedded itself in the bone. After q
bandage was on, also applied tourni-
quet, and then he said:
"You have q hard job before you to get
me to camp. You must contrive some sort
Of sled.''
This could not do without going to
camp for the axe and some ropes. I got
him in as comfortable q position as posi-
BILE, and then hurried of, and in less than
an hour after I started was back again
with the axe, ropes and a couple of blank
cts. cut two saplings with proper
crook or bow to them, dashed on some
cross pieces, and then peeled some bark to
make deck. When the blankets had
been spread on top of this, my work was
done. had drawn Zane forty or fifty
feet from the spot where the accident oc-
Cured, and was fixing him in position to
ride easily, when five great wolves sud-
denly appeared from I could not say
where, and began licking the blood off the
snow, meanwhile growing and fighting in
the most savage manner. They were of a
light-gray color, of good size, and had
sneaked up while was busy with the
moment, but felt no alarm until Zane,
seeming to make great effort to control
the bodily pain and mental excitement,
said:
''Start for the cabin at once, and mind no
more about me. I can hang on some way,
while we shall be attacked if we stay
here"
moved off at once, and as soon as the
sledge was fairly under way moved very
fast. but had not gone one-third Of the
distance to our cabin before seventeen
wolves, formed in crescent shape, came
tearing after US. They had open ground to
maneuver on, and saw that the object
was to encircle us. will say this much in
my own defense, for it is only justice, that
I was not bit ratified, perhaps not realiz-
ing the full danger. supposed that a
shot or two would scatter the beasts, but
I was not yet ready to halt and deliver
them when the sledge, with its heavy load,
broke weak spot in the crust, and 1 was
jerked on my back. Iscrambled up to find
the wolves in circle around us, and not
over thirty feet away, and now I saw by
their looks and actions that we were in
deadly peril. Zane must have realized
this sooner than did, but the calmness of
despair made his voice steady as he said:
sOpen fire as quick and as fast as you
can, for they mean to attack u.s."
Ihad a Winchester, and began to pop
away as fast as could work the gun. I
dropped three wolves and wounded
fourth, and then they rushed in on u.s.
Just what occurred for the next twenty
seconds can not clearly remember. A
wolf must have sprung at me from behind,
for I was knocked down. got up and
struck two or three with my gun, made a
dash through an opening, and one glance
showed me that the whole pack was climb
ing over Zane and tearing him to pieces. /
don't remember that he uttered Cry or